History of Christianity I (to AD 843)

This introductory course explores Christianity’s formation and transformation from the post-apostolic era to the "Triumph of Orthodoxy" in the East and the Carolingian revival and Treaty of Verdun in the West in the year 843. Along the way, we will explore how Christians described their religious experience, practiced their faith, articulated and argued about their beliefs, and structured their ecclesial communities. We will learn about Christianity’s changing relationship to political power; its engagement with other religions and cultures; the lifestyles, theological mindsets, and models of community proposed and debated by Christian leaders; the political and theological challenges associated with the movement’s early marginalization, eventual expansion, encounter with Islam in the East and the "barbarians" in the West; and the formation of "Christian Europe." Lecture, group discussions. Evaluation: practice quizzes, mid-term writing projects, choice of final exam or research paper.